Draft rigging



New 15, 1938. E. H. BLATTNER DRAFT RIGGING ESheesmSheet 1 Filed Aug. 2l, 1954 N1 m, @NWN Nov. 15, 1938,

E. H. BLATTNER DRAFT RIGGING Filed Aug. 21, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vlatentiecl Nov. 1K5, 1938 N. Y., a'corporationof Maryland` y r Rochester, N. Y., "assigner to The Symington-Gould Corporation,

Rochester, v

- psppliat'imi August-'21, 1934, serial N6. 740,835

u 17' claims; (ci. 21a-37') VThis invention relates'to railway draft rigging and, more particularly, tor suchnin combinationv with friction cushioningmechanism for providing a greater-'travel and energy absorbingbapacity under theaction of bufling forces than when sub-l jected to'draft forces. T j I VThe principalobjectof my invention, generally considered, is toprovide a friction draft gear comprising elements enclosedinhousing means forming front and rear mechanism pockets, said housing means being unsymmetrcaland being directly'stopped on draft-byfrontlugs onthedraft sills, Vnear lugs being 'f provided and.A desirably spaced from said frontlugs so as to provide an American Association of Railways-standard ver f tical yoke draft gear pocket, saidrear lugs serving to stop the `rear followerfofithe g gear on'-buff, whereby when used with a verticalyoke andassociated lcoupler, the `rear-.mechanism :only is actuated on draft, while themechanism-irrboth pockets is actuated .on buff.

'- Another object of my. invention is theprevision ofan economical and .compact double-act ing draft gear includinga housingfhaving complete friction; elements at each -end, the total length of the Vg-earover projectingelementsin normal position being more thanfthe distancebetween the faces offthefront` and rear lclraftvlugs in order to provide for theemployment of suchl a double-acting jgea'r in anl American Association of Railways standardpvertical yokeA draft gearl pocket. A further object of my invention is the/'provision vof-.a yoke having draft gear abutmentfaces at opposite ends spaced-adistance equal `tothe normal length of? an associated draftgeanand greater than the distance -fbetween k.the vertical stop faces of vassociated membersdeninglan AmericanAssociation of Railways standard Vdraft gear pocket. 1 .L Y

Other objects and-advantages of theinvention relating tothe particular arrangement and 'construction -of the variousI partswill become ap-` parent as the description proceeds.` g Y Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined bythe appended claimsz V Figure 1 is a plan `ofone embodiment 'ofmy double-acting draft gear, associated rigging and sills, saidsills, back-stop, stop lugs and portions of the coupler and gear being shown in'horizontal section. n 'Y Y I Figure 2 is a vertical Vlongitudinal sectional view between the Asills andshowing the. forward portion of the draft rigging and associated cushioningmechanism partly in side elevation.,` l

Figure 2a is a viewcorresponding ,to land supplem-enting Figure 2 as showing the portion ofthe underframe, rigging and gear rearwardly of, that shown in Figure 2., y

Figure 3 is' a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Y

My invention is intended to provide a selective travel arrangement .employing a coupler* with its horn normally spaced from the associated striking casting a distance `greater, than with `a singler acting or conventional gear in order to 'allow for :the increased rearward movement, and ypivotally connected to ayokedevice which is slightly special and nearly interchangeable with a standard vertical yoke, in that it 'is employed with associated fr ont and rear, stops spaced to provide an American Association of Railways standard ver- -rtical yoke draft gear pocket. The double-acting draft gear in` said pocket Y.desirably includes wedges, spread by combined follower yand central Wedgedeviceaand is formed so that the housing is directly stopped on draft-by the front lugs,

thefront follower-acting means normally projectingbeyond the front wall portions of the hous-y ing, but stoppedfoninward movement by` Wall portions spaced inwardly from the housing Afront end, while the rear follower-acting means directly engages the .rear lugs whereby said latter element is actuated on draft for energizing the yrear cushioning `rndeclrianism,v the mechanisms in both ends of the housing being actuated on buff through-the .front follower acting means'moving into the front-draft gear pocket, and vsimultaneously movingu thev housing rearwardly overr the rear follower acting means, which is "stopped bythe rear draft lugs. .Referring now 'parts being. 'designated bylikere'ference characters, there are shown portions of an underframe adapted for use with railway vehicles and comy prisingcenter or ydraft sills Iv connected by Va backstop or combined b'ackstop and center filler casting .2, the forward arms ofwhich provide rear draft, lugsor '.'stopl means 3.` .'l'heouter endsI of the sills are lconnected bya striking casting e' to the drawings detail, like which, inthe present embodiment,rv is provided withja movable carrier ,block '5 connected to said castingbymeans of a, normally horzontalbolt 6, the yends of said block desirably restingion inwardly extending ledgesv 1 for securely* supporting the stem 8 of an associated couplerS, Y Y

In the present embodiment, the striking cast# ing-4 has rearwardly'extending portions I0 securedtok thesills l yand forming front draft lugs 1l," said' rearwardly` extending 'portions being slotted, as indicated at- 12,to receivea horizontal draft key I3 vwhich serves Vfor the support ofthe vcoupler stemt and'associated vertical/.yoke It,

said yoke and coupler stem being desirably pivotally connected `,by means of4 a normally vertical v pin `1,5; so thatthe forward portion of the yoke forms,'in effect, a swivel butt for thecoupler stern, said lpinbeing desirably supported `on a rretainer I 6 engaging a notched portion I 'I in the lower end thereof, said retainer desirably extending between depending lug portions on the bottom of the vertical yoke I4. Undesired upward movement of the pin is, in the present embodiment,

limited by an overlying ledge or shelf I8 formed@l on'the vertical yoke I4. The `pivotal connection between the coupler stemand yoke, except as specifically illustrated and described, corresponds generally with that described and claimed in Patent No. 1,786,419, dated December 30, '1930.

The spacing of the lugs 3 and I I is suchthat an A. A. R. standard vertical yoke draft gear pocket is provided therebetween. In other words, the arrangement allows for a conventional single- `acting draft gear andfassociatedvertical yoke and coupler to be-employed. In the present embodiment, I have substituted for such a conventional arrangement an unsymmetrical draft gear or cushioning device I9 comprising a housing or housing means 20 formed by side walls 2|, an upper wall 22, a lower wall 23, and a transverse partition 24 connecting said walls and forming a Y front draft gear pocket 25 and a rear draft gear pocket 2B. The transverse partition 24 is spaced rearward of the midpoint between the front and rear ends of the housing and in order to provide cushioning mechanism pockets of equal length, the frontpocket 25 is defined by transverse web or flange portions 21 spaced inwardly of the front end flanges or webs 28. The rear pocket 26 is defined b y the rear flange orA web portions 29 of the housing 20, whereby both pockets 25 and 2B are adapted to receive cushioning mechanism of equal capacities. y Y I Each pocket 25and 26 receives two sets of inwardly acting curved leaf springs 30 which engage` corresponding friction shoes 3I, which shoes are spread apart when the gear is compressed by central wedge portions 32 on associated Vfolloweracting devices, the front device` being designated 33, and therear device ,34. A front helical release spring 35 and a rear helical'release spring'36 are provided for holding the mechanism in normally open position. Thel follower acting devices and associated parts are prevented from disconnection from the housing and associated parts by y means of a through bolt 3'I, ,the ends of which are secured by nuts 38 to retainers 39 received inthe ends of the followers 33 and 34, said bolt 31 being provided with a collar or stop device 40 normally engaging the partition 24 tov prevent the front follower 33 from moving forward with the yoke and coupler when the rear followeris pushed into the housing under the action of draft forces. Except as specifically described, the construction of the gear corresponds generally with Ythat described and claimed in application Serial No. 711,247, filed February 14, 1934, although it will be understood that I do not wish to be limitedto this form of gear as certain advantages of my invention may be secured with gears of other types. The liners which are engaged by the curved plate springs 30 and wedges 3l, in order toprovide renewable wear surfaces on the housing, are not fully described because they are like n those described in connection withrsaid previous application.

spaced from the rearv surface of the housing 20 avdistance sufficient to allow for full compression only of Y.the mechanism in the rear pocket 26. Carriers 43and 44, secured to the sills by bolts or thelike 45y and 46, are desirably provided to underlie the yoke device I4 and provide for the support of said device and the associated doubleacting gear I9.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, fit will be Vseen that under the action of draft forces the vertical yoke I4 actuates the rear follower 34 andl friction Velements only, the -housing remaining stationary on account of its engagement with the front draft lugs II. n

Under the action of bufling forces, the coupler butt or -pivotally connected front end portion of the yoke I4 engages the front follower device 33, pushing Yit into the front pocket 25 and simultaneously causing the housing 20 to move rearwardly over the Yrear follower device 34, thereby closing both the front and rear friction elements with a travel equal to the sum of the travels allowed for the cushioning means in the front and rear ends of the housing or, in theV present embodiment, double the travel provided at one end ofthe gear.

It'will be seen that byvirtue of my improved construction I'have provided for a selective travel series draft gear arrangement for use in a conventional or single-ended draft gear pocket, and with a vertical yoke interchangeable with the Standard vertical yoke for use in said pocket. It willl also be understood that the details of the cushioning mechanism disclosed are merely illustrative and not limiting.

Although I'have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that vmodifications maybe made within the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the claims.

I claimt- 1. Railway draft rigging comprising spaced center sills, stop members connected thereto, said stop members being spaced apart so as to provide an VAmerican Association of Railways standard vertical yoke draft gear pocket, `housing means positioned within said pocketjnormally engaging the front stop members, and having web portions adjacentV said front end but spaced rearwardly therefrom, the rear of said housing means being spaced from said rear stop members, cushioning means located within said `housing means at the opposite ends thereof, said means operating'independently of each other, and follower-acting means cooperating with each cushioning means, the said follower-acting means located at the forward end of said housing means normally extending fcrwardly of 'the-vertical faces of said front stop members, having portions adapted to abut said web portions to limit compression of the front cushioning means, and adapted to be actu- CII :25 having an '50 with ldran sins, a

members, `cushioning "means'at-each end ofthe operating independently of -each other, and `a bolt extending longitudinally -through-said followers 'and Vhousingforlholding the "partsassembled, said Vbolt 'having 'a stop `portion engaging-acorref jsponding Vstop rportion -on said housing for -ho'lding lthe kparts -of the front vcushioning meansassembled in normal relation when Vthefassociatjed,

coupler moves forwardly forV actuating the rear f V.ciishioning means, -the follower located at the `forward end of the -housingnormally Aextending Y'forwardlyl of 1the vertical faces of thelfront stop V`n1embers rfor actuation by said-coupler upon inward movement thereof.

' 3. `In a railway draft rigging, combination `with draftsills, va coupler, a vertical yoke pivotally connected thereto;A frontjand rear stop .means mounted ons'aid sills and positioned for use with a conventional single-acting draft gear, and 4a double-acting draft gear mounted between said sills and the armsof said yoke rearwardly 'of said coupler, said gear comprising a housing opening and receiving cushioning mechanism `in Yeach end, said mechanism comprising front `and rea-r followers, the front end of said housingnormally' engaging 'the front stop means and clearance being provided be- "tween Ythe rear end `of said lhousing and the rear vstopgmeans for Veffecting fullcompression of the rear cushioning mechanism, the front follower normally extending forward of the -f-ront of the housing for actuation on buff, the frontV offsaid Ahousing having an opening large enough to permit 'the front vfollower to Vmove rearwardly of the front Aand stop-*engaging portionsA of said housing, `and the rear followerbeingfnormally ,engaged Aby the rear stop means and rear end o portion "of the yoke, so that when thev yoke `is pulled forwardly bythe coupler vvunder the ac-V tion of draft forces, the rearcufshioning'mechanism only is actuated,` while under Yloufng forces the front `follower is movedfrearwardly with respect to the housing andthe housing moved rearwardly with respect `to the rearlfollower for simultaneously actuating the cushioning mechanism in both -ends of the housing.

l 4. In railway draft rigging, in cornbinat-ion coupler and vertical yoke mounted between -said sills,` and connected v'to each other, lfront draft lugs mounted on said` sills and positioned so Vas `to form front -stops lfor Va Yconventional single-acting draft gear, rear rlugs mounted on said sills' andipositioned -so as .to form rear stops foresaid gear, and' jav 'double-r acting Vdraft gear mounted between said :sills and the arms of said yoke, rearwardly of` said coupler, said gear comprising a housing formed with a zmechanism pocket in -each end, the kfront end of said housing normally engaging the -front stops land the rear end normally spaced from said rear stops, and cushioning mechanism in each pocket of said housing,rsaid mechanism in, the front pocket comprising a follower and central friction element and an associated spring, the front end portion of said'spring being housed in said friction element, said element normally em tending forwardly beyond the front of the hous- 'ing for actuationby the coupler on buff, the

'mechanism in the rear end comprising a similar follower and central friction element laterally extended to provide portions normally "engaging the rear draft lugs and from whichthe ,27'5 rear end of the housing visnormally spaced an Vtension being adapted for jwardly beyondV the end of thehousing and having f portions lextending iatcrally and terminating anisrn :only is actuated, andrunder the action of buffingj for-ces Athe frontcushioning mechanism is'lactuatedby the ycoupler and yoke, and' the Vhousirig"simultaneouslyi moved rearward to 'ac- .Y tuate the rear friction elements, thereby proil() v-iding` increased cushioning-,effect `for` bufiing forces-in the Sanrespa necessary v'for ay conventional"single-acting gear. I i5. A double-'actingA 'draft `gear comprising a vhousing having an opening in each end andjdivided by a transverse partition to provide for` wardly vand rearwardly @opening pockets, said rearwardly opening pccketreceiving rear cushioning rnecl'ianismY comprising. spring-actuated rfrictionelements anda central wedge portion of '-aj rear followerjwhich engages said elements,`said rear follower'. 'having lateral extensions the front surfaces of `which are v'spaced from `the rear ends of the housing a distance corresponding with the movement of saldfollower for lfull compres- 'sion of saidrear'cushioning mechanism,-said 'ex- "engagement with rear stop meana'the forwardly opening-pocket beinggdened by transverse Iwall portions spaced inwardly Vfrom-the front-end of thehousing and @0 'said pocket receiving fro'ntcushioningV mechanism/comprising 'spring-actuated 'friction elements and la central v'wedge `.portion ofa front follower which engages `said elements, said front follower extending forwardly beyond the veind of "the housing and terminating in lateral extensions short of end wall'portionsiofsaid housing, the latter being formed yfor engagement with front stop means',` the inner surfaces'of said lateral 4extensions beingspacedflom said inwardlyV spacedV transverse wall portionspan amount suficier'rt"tov allow -for full compression Vof the front cushioning/mechanism. 1 1 '65A double-acting" draft kea 'Y comprising housing means having' 'an opening'finf'e'a'ch end and 45' divided by artransverse partition to Vprovide frontl 'a'ndrear pockets, said rear pocketireceiving rear 'cushioning mechanism comprising spring-actuate'dfrictionelements and a' central wedge Vporti'on vof rearfollowerv which-engages' said ele- 1 4ments,""saidi rear follower hav-ingportions extendin g laterallyfand the front'surfaces of which are ospaced)from the V'rear end of thehous'ing a` disinning mechanism, said "extensions being adapted `for engagement with rearstop'meansf, the forward pocket being definedbytra-nsversely 'extending wall portions spaced inwardly'frcm the front *fend ofthe housing means and said pocket re- 360 ce'iving front cushion-ing mechanism comprising spring-actuated friction elements and a central wedge `portion of `va front followerr which Vengages "said elementsgsaid front follower extending for-v 'short of front endport-ions of said housing, the

llatter ybeing formed *for engagement withfront stop ineansth'e inner surfaces ofthe lateral extensions bei-ng'spaced'from'said inwardly spaced .y0

wall'portion's an amount suicientto lallow for full `coinpression of the front cushioning'mechani'snrn and a2 ibolt extending vlongitudinally through,:slidfeear 'and the front 'and rear. 'fo-1,-V

`lowers `'for' holding said followers assembled with v5 7. A double-acting draft gear comprising housing means having an opening in each'end and Y divided by a transverse partition to provide front and rear pockets, said rear pocket receiving rear cushioning mechanism comprising spring-actuated friction elements and a `central 'wedge portion of a rear follower which engages -said elements, said rear'follower having portions extending laterally, and the front surfaces of which are spaced from the rear end of the housing means a distance corresponding with the movement ofV said follower for full compression of said rear cushioning mechanism, said extensions being adapted forengagement with rear stop means, the forward pocket being defined vby transversely extending wall portions spaced inwardly from the front end of the housing means, and said pocket receiving front cushioning mechanism comprising spring-actuated friction elements and a centralrwedge portion of a front follower which engages said elements, said front follower extending forwardly beyond the end of the housing means, when in normal position, and having laterally extending portions adapted to abut the inwardly spaced wall portions as stops, and be housed between the front end portions of the housing means, when the front cushioning mechanism is fully compressed, said front end portions of the housing means being constructed for engagement with front stop means, and means for holding said followers assembled with the housing means. l

8. Railway draft rigging comprising spaced center sills, stop members connected thereto and spaced apart so as to be used with a conventional Vsingle-acting draft gear, housing means positioned between said sills and stop members and normally engaging the front stop members, the rear of said housing means being spaced from said rear stop members, cushioning means lo- -cated within said housing means at the opposite ends thereof, said means operating independently of each other, follower-acting Ameans for operating with said cushioning means, said follower-acting means, at the forward end of the housing means, normally extending forwardly of the abutment faces of said front stop members and adapted to be. actuated by a coupler upon inward movement thereof, and a bolt extending longitudinally through said followeractingmeans and housing means for holding the parts assembled, said bolt having a collar on an intermediate portion thereof, and said housing means having a partition through which said bolt passes and which forms an abutment for said collar for limiting movement of said bolt in one y direction.

9. In railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, a coupler .and vertical yoke mounted between said sills and connected to each other, front draft lugs mounted on said sills and positioned so asto form stops for use with a conventional single-acting draft gear, rear lugs mounted on said sills and positioned for use as rearstops for such a gear, and a double-acting draft gear mounted between said sills, lugs and the arms of said yoke rearwardly of said cou-v pler, said gear comprising a housing formed with one mechanism pocket at the rear end and another spacedrearwardly from the front end, the

f gaging said friction element,

- ciated coupler upon assembled in normal front end of said housing normally engaging the front lugs and therear end normally spaced from said rear lugs, and cushioning mechanism in each pocket of said housing, said mechanism in the front pocket comprising a central friction element with the outer portion extended and enlarged to function as a front follower, said element normally extending forwardly beyond the, front of the housing and adapted to be pushed rearwardly until it engages the portions of said housing dening the front of said last-mentioned pocket, with its front face disposed inwardly of the front edge of said housing, the mechanism in the rear end comprising a similar central friction element with outer portions extended to provide shoulders normally engaging the rear draft lugs, and from which the rear end of the housing is normally spaced an amount corresponding with the full compressive anism, the rear portion of the yoke normally enwhereby, under the action of draft forces, the rear cushioning element only is actuated, and, under the action of bufling forces, the front cushioning mechanism is actuated by the coupler, and the housing simultaneously moved rearward to actuate the rear friction elements, thereby providing increased cushioning effect for bumng forces as compared with the cushioning effect for draft forces.

10. Railway draft rigging comprising sills, front and rear stop members connected thereto and spaced to provide a draft gear pocket, a housing positioned in'said pocket and normally engaging the front stop members, the rear of said housing being normally spaced from said rear stop members, said housing having, an inwardly extending web adjacent the front portion thereof, cushioning means including a follower received in each end of said housing operatingy independently of each other, the follower located at the forward end of the housing normally extending forwardly of theabutment faces of the front stop members for actuation by an assoinward movement thereof and adapted to engage said web to limit the compressive movement of the front cushioning means, and a device extending from one follower to the other for holding the parts' of the front cushioning means assembled in normal relation to lsaid housing and preventing expansion thereof when the coupler moves forwardly for actuating the rear cushioning means.

11. A double-acting vdraft gear comprising a housing, cushioning means including a follower received in each end of vsaid housing and operfrom said adjacent follower extensions an amount suflicient to permit a full compressive movement of the associated cushioning means and a bolt extending longitudinally through both followers and housing `for holding the parts assembled, said bolt having a stop portion engaging a corresponding stop portion, on said housing for holding the parts of the front cushioning means y relation and preventing expansion of the front movement of the rear mechcushioning means when the 75 coupler moves forwardly for actuating the rearV cushioning means.

12. A double-acting draft gear comprising aV housing open at both ends, cushioning means including a follower received in each end of said" housing and operating independently of each other, said housing having a transverse wallinltermediate the ends thereof Vand an inwardly extending web adjacentone end portion thereof,

the follower located at said one end of the housing normally extending outwardly ofthe adjacent housing end, said follower being adapted to engage said inwardly extending web to limit the compressive movement of the cushioning means at said one end, and a bolt connecting the followersand Vhaving a stop means intermediate the ends thereof, said stop means engaging said transverse wall for preventing expansion .of the` said cushioning means at said one 'end when the other cushioning means is compressed.

13. Railway draft rigging comprising spaced center sills, frontand rear stop members connected to -said sills and spaced apart to provide a draft gear pocket, housing .means positioned within said pocket normally engaging the front stop member and having webl portions adjacent the front portion thereof, the rear of said hous-g ing means Ybeing spaced from said rear stop means, cushioning means at the front and rear ends of the housing eachcomprisingspringactuated friction elements'an'd a central wedgeV portion of a follower` which engagessaid elements, said web portions guidingly receiving `said front central wedge therebetween saidrrear follower extending laterally of the housing for sub? stantiallykthe same width thereof andspaced from the rear end of the housing a distance corresponding with the movement of said follower for full compression of said rear' cushioning means, said rear follower extension normally engaging said rear stop member, said front followerl extending forwardly beyond the end of the housing and the wedge portion being provided with a lateral extension terminating short of end wall portions of said housing, the'inner surface of said lateral extension being spaced from said web portions an amount sufficient to allow Afor full com.-

pression of the front cushioning means.

14. A double-acting draft gear comprising a housing means having an opening at each end and an inwardly extending web adjacent the one v end thereof, cushioning means at both ends of said housing comprising spring-actuated friction elements and a central wedge portion of a fol. lower which engages said elements, one of .saidV followers having a portion extending laterally substantially equal tothe width., of the housing and spaced longitudinally from the adjacent end of the housing a distance corresponding with the full Vcompressive movement of the associated cushioning means,4 said other follower having a lateral extending portion terminating shortv of end wall portions of said housing and spaced outwardly of the housing from. said web an amount andan inwardly extending web adjacent one end of. said housinggcushioning means positioned in eachk pocket of said housing comprising springactuated friction elements and a central wedge portionpf a follower which engages said elements, one of said followers having -aV portion extending laterally ofthe housing :substantially equal to the width of the housing and spaced longitudinally from the adjacent end lof the house, 'ing a distance corresponding with the fullv com.-

pressive movement of the associatedcushioning means, said other follower having a lateral extending portion terminating short of vend wall portions of said housing and spaced longitudi' nally` from said web an amount suicient to allow for full compression of the associated ment to limit the inward movement of said other follower, ,and a device extending fromV one fol- -`lowerrto Ythe other having means intermediate the endsV thereof and adapted to engage said in-v termediate transverse vwall'for limiting the out--k ward `movement, of one of the cushioning means when the other cushioning means is compressed.

16. A double-actingrdraft gear comprising a housinghaving an intermediate transverse-'wall .forming pockets at both ends thereof, aninwardlyrextending web adjacent the one end lof .the

, housing, cushioning means in said pockets com` prisingr friction elements actuated by spring means interposed between said elements and additional spring means interposed between said transverse wall and followers, one of said followers having aportion extending laterally of said 'housing for substantially the width thereof and adapted to engage a rear stop. means, said folvcushioning means, said web forming an abuthousing, and a central wedge portion of a follower engaging said elements and actuated by` lower being spaced from the adjacent` end of the housing a distance corresponding with the full compressivel movement oftherassociated cushion- Y ing means, said'other follower having a lateral.

extending portion terminating short of end wall portions of said housingand in overlapping relation with said web, said end wall portions being adapted to engage a; front stop means, and said other follower being spaced from said web an amount sufficient to allow for full compression of the associated cushioning means.

k1'7. In a railway draft rigging, in combination with draft sills, front and rear stop members connected Vto the inner faces of said sills and having vertical stop faces, those of the front being spaced from those of the rear a distance equal to` the length of Lthe American Association of l Railways standard draft gear pocket, a draft gear within said pocket comprising a housing normallyv engaging the front stop member, a .rear follower associatedwith said draft gear in spaced relation with said housing and normally engaging said rear stop member, a front follower co- Y operating with said draft gear, the forward face of said front follower being normally positioned forwardly of the vertical stop faces of the adjacent members, a yoke for cooperation with said draft'gear and normally engaging said followers at both ends, the abutment faces of said yoke at Voppositeends being spaced a distance equal to ,the normal length of Ythe draft gear and greater v than the distance between. the vertical stop faces of the members.

' EMIL H. BLATTNER. 

